$400 million needed for Interstate 91 overhaul in Springfield

BOSTON - Gov. Deval Patrick's top transportation official said Wednesday the state would be unable to finance a $400 million overhaul of the elevated section of Interstate 91 in downtown Springfield unless state legislators approve a new way to raise revenues for road and bridge projects in the state.

"It can't be done right now unless we have new revenues," Davey said in an interview. "Four, five, six, 10 years out, I suppose we would probably have to scrape together every dollar we have .. and probably do only that and not do a bunch of other things across the state."

Davey and other state transportation leaders joined the governor at the Statehouse on Wednesday for an event to underscore the importance of raising new revenues to invest in transportation projects such as possibly replacing the 2.5-mile section of Interstate 91, the most costly transportation project currently planned in the state.

In his $34.8 billion state budget for the fiscal year starting July 1, Patrick proposed increasing the income tax from 5.25 percent to 6.25 percent starting Jan. 1. He also proposed cutting the sales tax from 6.25 percent to 4.5 percent and dedicating money from the sales tax to transportation projects.

Patrick is also proposing to eliminate 44 personal income tax exemptions and deductions and to impose additional taxes on corporations.

Patrick's tax package would raise $1.9 billion a year for transportation and education.

In a speech, the governor said people should talk to their neighbors and state legislators about the need to invest in transportation and education.

"Help them find the political courage to choose what's right for our long-term good instead of just what's easy short-term politics," Patrick told the crowd.

Patrick said people have a "generational responsibility" to sacrifice a little today in order to share in a better tomorrow.

Democratic leaders in the state Legislature have said they will consider Patrick's tax proposals, but are making no commitments.

Rep. Donald F. Humason, a Westfield Republican, said he applauded the governor for putting a priority on education and transportation but it's just "the wrong time" to raise taxes.

"Even the leadership on the Democratic side is not really that keen on all these new taxes," Humason said. "Not withstanding the wishes of Governor Patrick, it's going to be difficult for him to push that package through."

After the event, Patrick told several reporters that he is willing to compromise and is open to other ideas for raising revenues. Patrick said he wants to give legislators a chance to digest his tax proposal and reflect on it.

"What I am not open to is doing less than what is necessary to assure ourselves a 21st century transportation network and schools that reach every child," Patrick said.

Patrick's transportation department included the possible replacement of the 1-91 viaduct in Springfield in "The Way Forward: A 21st Century Transportation Plan," a 10-year program to eliminate large deficits in maintaining roads, rail and bridges and to make new capital investments.

Options include rebuilding the viaduct as it currently stands, demolishing it and making I-91 a surface road or burying the interstate, much like Boston's elevated central artery was put underground when it was rebuilt as part of the Big Dig project. Local officials in Springfield have long been concerned that Springfield's elevated stretch of I-91 has hurt downtown development by cutting the city off from the Connecticut River.

Davey said the state needs to work closely with city leaders and hold lots of community meetings on the project but he said he is not yet prepared to start that process. He said he is open to studying options besides replacing the viaduct.

"We have to figure out if it is funded first," Davey said. "It would be a folly to really begin in earnest, thinking about what it could be, if we don't know whether or not it is funded."

"It's obviously a critical .. north-south spine in the state," Davey said. "We have to make sure we don't limit capacity because it's an important road. I think we are open to anything as long as it can continue to carry the volume of traffic it is today in a safe manner."

Davey said the section of Interstate 91 in Springfield needs more than maintenance.

"Unfortunately, right now, under our current funding, we don't have the money to do anything. We would just be doing patch repairs and we really need to replace it."